Liverpool Banter 2

13 Aug 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled,

Click picture for larger image

13 Aug 2026 10:34:13
So, looks like Ibrahim Mbaye is off the table now. Liverpool apparently consider his valuation, of 34 million, to be too expensive. Bayern Leverkusen, however, are happy to match PSG's valuation.

Barcola still a target, at about 120 million. No idea why we are even humouring this. 120 million for a player of Barcola's limited ability is just absurd. Plus he has two years left on his contract. Not complaining about PSG's valuation, mind you, they are well within their right to demand whatever fee they wish. The fact we are still willing to go £100 million is the part that does not sit right with me, at all.

A week before the Prem season starts and, at this point, I have no idea who will be starting at RW. Could be Rio, could be Koumas, could be Munoz? None of these options are particularly welcoming. Two are youngsters, more used to playing LW, predominantly. The other is a new signing who will need to acclimate to the speed of the Prem.

Releasing Salah a year early, and not ensuring a ready made replacement was signed beforehand, was a massive misstep. We have covered Konate's departure with a loan, a short term fix to what has been a long term problem. Konate should never have been a starter for us. Hopefully Leoni and Jacquet step up.

Iraola is a quality coach, and he will make us more exciting to watch again, at the very least. But, my word, is he working with one hand tied behind his back. Issues and concerns at right back, centre back, left back, centre mid and right wing, ranging from quality to depth.

There will be growing pains, can see this season being very similar to Klopp's first season. With us looking exciting on the attack, but conceding silly goals. Hopefully still time to support Iraola in the market, although the player's integration will be rushed, with the season having already started.

13 Aug 2026 11:43:00
Chelsea want £120m for Enzo. Forest just got £116 for Anderson and Villa £117 for Rogers. These are the times. For me, if Barcola comes in, Gakpo is 100% out the door. He will not want to be a squad player, and I don't blame him.

If we can bring in £70 or £80m for him, I can live with paying that for Barcola. Crazy as that sounds because I'm not even fully convinced on Barcola, but it looks like we are going ahead with him so it is what it is.

13 Aug 2026 11:35:09
Where have you read this, Mango?

I saw a flurry of opinion pieces linked via NewsNow that say the same thing, but don't quote a source, so just wondering if it's one of these you have based your view on, or something more tangible?

13 Aug 2026 11:57:07
Complete non-story for me.

Romano is basically just saying what we already knew - that the clubs are speaking daily and PSG want as much money as they can possibly get. He even says "at the moment, the price made by PSG for Mbaye is considered too expensive" (they apparently want EUR200m for the pair which would be completely insane!), leaving the door open for us to still sign him and for him to save face.



We may sign Barcola and Mbaye, we may sign neither. Let's just wait and see. Hopefully it will all be resolved one way or another soon because this whole thing is painful.

{Ed025's Note - not as painful as it is for us Editors SK.. :)

13 Aug 2026 12:01:36
Is it just me that thinks Mbaye at EUR34m is much better value than Barcola at EUR120m?

Can't find the logic in that.

Only one of those players addresses our issue of needing a strong right winger. And it isn't Barcola.

Last 2 seasons, we spent a lot of money on players that we didn't need:
- Isak (not essential when we already had signed Hugo and play 1 CF)
- Frimpong (made his reputation as a wing back in a back 3/5 which we don't play)
- Chiesa (never had a clearly defined role in the team, played from the bench and cup games in striker and wing positions)

Is this a theme of Hughes' recruitment?

Trying to stay optimistic.

Not trying to be negative.

But Iraola is not a miracle worker and he needs to be given a competitive squad of players.

As we stand, I think our squad is weaker now than it was last season (no Ekitike, no Salah, no Konate, no Robbo) and the same weaknesses we had last season at right back, centre midfield and on the wings.

13 Aug 2026 12:06:10
Mbaye for that price is worth a gamble.

13 Aug 2026 12:16:11
Reading between the lines, I suspect the reality is that despite Leverkusen and other clubs being offered Mbaye at a price, the price being quoted to Liverpool is higher, and we are miffed about that, especially as we're in late stages of a deal with them for Barcola.



I remember that very outspoken Lyon guy used to say there is always a different price for Premier League clubs.

All part of the dance, unfortunately.

13 Aug 2026 12:16:44
'Limited ability', he would be our most talented player by a mile from what he's shown so far. We have a Curtis Jones in the actual first team squad for god's sake. 'Working with one hand tied behind his back' he's come from Bournemouth, I'm sure he can adapt. Having two of the world's most expensive players is hardly scraping the barrel. Salah was never going to be replaced, never mind the numbers, you're never going to get that consistency or injury free player anywhere in the world.



Who's your ready made replacement? There's no one, Olise? Nowhere near the dynamism of Barcola and he will cost twice as much. Rayan couldn't lace Barcola's boots.

Everyone seems to be forgetting these prices are pretty much largely a direct result of us setting the precedent, we paid over 100 mill for Wirtz, we can't complain about any price for a x2 Champions League winner and French international.

13 Aug 2026 12:30:41
Barcola's being brought in because he hit 42 G/A the season before last. There's nobody else in the market who's produced those numbers for a top top side. Not to mention he's played a significant role in winning 3 league titles and 2 UCL's, again, credentials nobody else available can match. The prices are off the charts, I agree, and I gave out about them in the beginning myself but the truth is there's nothing we can do about it; a weak talent pool means hyper-inflated prices, it is what it is. 100m is the new 50m unfortunately.

I agree, there's been a complete lack of foresight when it comes to lining up replacements, particularly with Mo's situation. We've a bit of a history of poor succession planning unfortunately. Olise should have been brought in back when we first showed interest in '24, could have got him for as little as EUR50m. Would have shadowed Mo and learnt from the best, giving us a smooth transition. Really poor decision from the club not to bring in both him and Semenyo at the right time.

Navy Keith, there's no point in comparing Barcola and Mbaye, one has fantastic experience performing at the top level, the other's just a kid who can't get a look in.

Isak's not essential? So if we didn't have him who'd be playing up front with Ekitike out for a whole year? Without Isak we'd be scrambling for a striker right now and there's even less of them on the market than wingers. I'll admit I was never really keen on Isak and Ekitike as a duo considering the similarities in their profile, body type and subsequently increased risk of injury, but we needed 2 strikers as we had lost 2 in Jota and Nunez.

Frimpong was brought in as he was deemed to be a somewhat similar profile to Trent in a way, started out as a winger but had experience at the back so he could provide going forward. In fairness to him, he had a fantastic couple of seasons with Leipzig and at the time it looked like a very good signing. Chiesa on the other hand was simply a cheap backup option at a time the club felt the squad was solid and in no real need of additions.

13 Aug 2026 12:47:46
@chewy, Reading your response, I think we're in agreement.

Succession planning is the main issue. How have we got ourselves in this situation with Salah? It's poor planning for a big club. We've known for a long time he would be leaving in the near future ever since he signed the extension. We've then cut the 2 years short and allowed him to leave after 1. It seems without a plan.

Re previous signings:

Frimpong "had a fantastic couple of seasons with Leipzig", agreed, but in a wingback system, which is what I said. We don't play with wingbacks.

Isak "I'll admit I was never really keen on Isak and Ekitike as a duo considering the similarities in their profile" exactly.

In 20/20 hindsight, now with Hugo having a long term injury, it makes some sense. But spending a record breaking fee on a player that had the same profile as a player we already had (Hugo) didn't make sense. Going for someone that offered something different would have been better - eg Jota could play wide alongside a CF.

I accept Barcola is a great player. But I would prefer a player that is more frequently played on right wing.

If I look at our wide players as an example to work from, Gakpo and Salah, their outputs would be far lower playing on the opposite wings. That's my concern if we plan to play Barcola on right wing.

13 Aug 2026 13:06:52
I'd say the best winger in the PL last season was Doku. Barcola is twice the player Doku is.

100m plus is the going rate for a player of Barcola's ability. You either pay it or take a chance on a cheaper target and hope they come good.

13 Aug 2026 13:38:28
NK, Barcola's not being brought in to play RW in my opinion. 80-90% of his contributions come from LW. I've no doubt the club is fully aware of that fact. Sure, you can argue that's only because he plays there more, but it's still his best side. I've no doubt he'll play RW at times, as Iraola does like to switch wingers if he feels a more traditional approach may be the most effective approach, but I don't believe he is stupid enough to play Barcola outside of his most effective position. We've already heard him state without any doubt that Dom would not be playing at RB and Wirtz will be playing as a 10.

I believe he's a coach who recognises the importance of his best players being utilised in their best positions and allowing others to fill gaps, as opposed to doing it the other way round as we did last season. I also believe we're still looking to bring in a RW as well as a Barcola, so long as we can find one that fits the bill. That said, if we fail to bring in a natural RW, there's a much greater chance of seeing Barcola spend more of his time on that side.

13 Aug 2026 14:07:31
We disagree on much, but Chewy has hit the nail on the head with every reply on this thread.

13 Aug 2026 14:46:23
Is Barcola really twice the player that Doku is? I'm not so sure. Anyway, they're pretty different sorts of wingers, with directly contrasting strengths and weaknesses. Barcola is blisteringly fast and will run in behind all day, but is a somewhat average dribbler and one on one threat.

Doku is one of the best one on one specialists in the world, and is very effective against set defenses.

13 Aug 2026 16:29:21
While agreeing with most here, I would add that Real Madrid have set the tone for the going rate of a winger with potential, at 120 million (Diomande). So, it should be logical for PSG to expect that their winger is worth more, given his experience and titles won, as mentioned above.

13 Aug 2026 20:35:00
Just wondering, with Gapo cutting inside from the left wing, why could he not take on a full back on the outside right wing, or has he not got the skill set to do that. Cheers.

13 Aug 2026 10:06:31
The Bellingham talk could absolutely be agents trying to get him a larger contract offer at Madrid. I hope if the lad was serious about wanting to play in the Premier League he runs his contract down. How sweet that would be.
I don't see Bellingham like many of you as "world class". He's been no such thing these last two years at Madrid. He's a very good player with great attributes for the Premier League.

I'm also not sure where he would play for us. I mentioned this before. What would that mean for Wirtz?
We all don't consider Wirtz as a "midfielder". These are attacking free roaming players essentially. Wirtz and Bellingham. They're essentially attackers.
I think now it's just agent talk to get their player another inflated contract. Much like Vini.

13 Aug 2026 10:19:30
On his day he is 100% world class. However, when I've watched him, more often than not he has been very inconsistent and often disappeared for long periods during games. There is also the fact that he is an arrogant bellend (as many of the top players are). Feels to me like Madrid is the right club for him to be honest.

13 Aug 2026 10:40:44
I think he's a very good player. Almost world class.
I do think Bellingham would have been better coming to us from Germany though, and then to Madrid later on in his career. Can't help think he's probably peaked too soon.



Would be a fantastic option for us though.
Him, Wirtz, and Szob fighting it out for 2 out of 3 attacking/advanced midfield spaces in the squad. We will be very dangerous and consistently so through the middle.

13 Aug 2026 10:47:10
Hit the nail on the head with the first line, Ron. Nothing more to it than that.

13 Aug 2026 11:21:48
Bellingham is absolutely world class and mixes athletic ability with technique and hard work. I actually think he would be best as a box to box midfielder, but his technical ability and goalscoring lead to him being played further forward. I don't believe the rhetoric that he is an arrogant bellend at all.

13 Aug 2026 11:46:34
Bellingham has no inclination to leave Madrid for us or anyone else. Talking about it is as silly as Arsenal fans thinking they were signing Vini Jnr last week.

13 Aug 2026 12:07:54
I think Bellingham has attributes to succeed in the PL more so than Wirtz. I don't use the term world class, but Bellingham is a top player.

13 Aug 2026 12:08:28
There must be something in Bellingham being a bell end, apparently Dortmund players were glad to see him go.

13 Aug 2026 12:09:44
Why are you talking about it then, Florian, you silly billy.

13 Aug 2026 12:17:24
Is that why TAA was so grumpy the other day?
His best mate could be moving to Anfield?????

13 Aug 2026 12:52:52
You got me red 😂. Seriously though, a waste of oxygen. Don't know how anyone even came up with this one. Real would fight to keep him harder than they did with Vinicius, and he has no interest in leaving. Might as well take what the Metro or CaughtOffside are saying seriously.

13 Aug 2026 12:55:06
Haaland loves Bellingham. Mad that Dortmund would let him be captain some games and sign his brother if he was such a difficult character.

13 Aug 2026 15:56:43
It's absolutely possible if Bellingham wants the move. The Anfield crowd would certainly take to him and his personality would be embraced by the fans. The father wanted Jude to join us.
Maybe one for next year if his contract continues to run down.

13 Aug 2026 09:54:39
{Ed's Note - phil_LFC has posted a new article entitled, Aroujo to Liverpool: What He Adds and What Worries Me

13 Aug 2026 10:44:53
I can see him partnering VVD initially, then maybe once Jaquet is fit and firing, he will be moved onto RB at times, giving us a solid back 3 in possession with Kherkez given freedom on the left to attack at will.
Then, rotated with Jaquet and RB, depending on fitness and form of Jaquet, Bradley and Frimpong.
Great loan signing on paper for me.

13 Aug 2026 10:53:33
Interesting thoughts, Mikey.

In our peak Klopp years, it was a solid back 3 with Robbo staying back, giving Trent and Mo a bit more licence to roam and attack at will.



I wonder if we could end up switching this now to RA/JJ/VVD, giving us the solidity, allowing Kerkez and Barcola the sort of free reign on the left that we used to have on the right.

13 Aug 2026 11:05:36
Zeddicus, you mention Barcola, but he is not our player, and, as things stand, he isn't going to be unless we move a bit quicker than we have been.

13 Aug 2026 11:06:48
Bournemouth did this a lot, Z, with Truffert roaming forward and Jimenez or Smith holding back more. It works with the instant press, which either wins the ball back or buys time to have everyone get into defensive positions.

13 Aug 2026 11:37:19
Elliot, you have your view and I have mine. I'm choosing to regard his deal as "done" (obviously applying Fornax's excellent scale of done-ness); you're choosing not to. Fair enough.

JoJo, makes sense. Klopp used the right, given he had Trent and Salah at his disposal; AI may choose to use the left as he did last year.

13 Aug 2026 13:47:14
I disagree with that, Zed. In our peak Klopp years, he used both the left and right. Robbo didn't get the numbers he did by sitting back. The midfielders stayed back to cover both Robbo and Trent when they bombed forward. That's what made us so frightening back then, imo, since we could attack down both the left and right depending on where the space was.

13 Aug 2026 14:37:33
Drac, I don't disagree, and Robbo was attacking too, but he was much better defensively than Trent.

I can see us having a double threat again, but more so when Bradley is fit rather than RA.

13 Aug 2026
New image uploaded to the
Liverpool Player Sightings page entitled, We now have 17 spots taken. We now have to loan or sell some on this list. Ramsay, Endo, Chiesa, Gakpo,Macca most likely to leave.

Click picture for larger image

13 Aug 2026 09:34:34
Leoni, Ndiaye and Jacquet also take a non-HG slot in the Champions League.

13 Aug 2026 09:39:05
Ekitike might not get registered until mid season. Pointless taking up a space with someone the club knows can't play.

Not sure how likely Gakpo and Macca are to leave, considering both are very much around the starting 11.

Ramsey never started a PL game.



Endo & Chiesa started 2 prem games in 2 seasons each.

I'd say they are the most replaceable.

However, I do see the benefit of Gakpo or Macca going due to the more significant transfer fees the club would receive.

13 Aug 2026 10:08:03
Endo, Chiesa and Ramsey are all easy to live without to free up space for any new signings.

Gakpo and Macca are more important, and would need to be replaced.

If Barcola and Mbaye both come in, then maybe we could see Gakpo and Chiesa moved on.



If Macca is replaced, we would have options (Pedri & Gavi have both been linked on here. We've also been linked to Wharton & Scott who would both have the bonus of not taking one of the 17 non-hg spots).

13 Aug 2026 10:27:01
Also, Aroujo will be coming into the squad.

13 Aug 2026 10:49:05
Nyoni and Koumas could easily replace Chiesa and Endo, and if Wharton is being brought in to replace Macca, then that's potentially 3 more HG, we're all good.

{Ed025's Note - to be honest Chewy...the chuckle brothers could replace Chiesa and Endo mate..

13 Aug 2026 11:03:36
JK23, think we'll definitely see some sales and loans this week. Mamardashvili, Davies, Frimpong, Ramsay, Ndukwe, Chambers, Scanlon, Tsimikas, Mac Allister, Bajcetic, McConnell, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Chiesa, Koumas, Danns, Wright, Morrison and Gakpo are all players who I think could go. Obviously not saying all of them will go but at least half of them need to. That's 20 players.

The squads very bloated right now. I think the only players who will definitely be here when the window closes are Alisson, Jaros, Woodman, Bradley, Gomez, Ndiaye, Araujo, Virgil, Leoni, Jacquet, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ekitike, Isak, Munoz and Rio.

That's 19 players but several of them are injured. Also, there are no natural Right Wingers or fit Right Backs.

We can't just keep adding players though when we currently have 39 on the books. Given that we have 20 players on top of the 19 players I think we'll be keeping, and we want to add another 2 or 3 still, I'd say at least 10-12 players need to be sold or loaned in the next 2 weeks. I keep reading that we have no depth, and whilst maybe the quality of the depth is lacking, we can field nearly 4 teams from what we have.

13 Aug 2026 11:45:43
39? Bloated? You're making us sound like Chelsea MK, come off it, will you, half of them are development players ffs. Relax.

13 Aug 2026 11:41:02
Haha, 100% agree Ed

13 Aug 2026 12:29:56
Chewy, of that list of 20, only 3 of them played regular academy football last season; Ramsay, Wright and Morrison. I'm not sure in what world that list can be considered development players. I specifically left out the academy players.

The other 17 were all either in our first team squad, or in someone else's first team squad. They're not going to go backwards and play academy football and even implying that is delusional. Other than Morrison and Wright I can pretty much guarantee you that every single one of those 20 players will either be in our first team, sold, or loaned out. Ramsay (23) will not be going back to play for the academy.

Last season Mama (25) was in our first team, Davies (22) was out on loan, Frimpong (25) was in our first team, Ndukwe (18) was playing first team football in Austria, Chambers (22) was on loan, Scanlon (20) was on loan, Tsimikas (28) was on loan, Mac Allister (27) was in our first team, McConnell (22) was in our first team but injured, Bajcetic (21) was in our first team but injured, Endo (33) was in our first team, Jones (26) was in our first team, Elliott (24) was on loan, Chiesa (28) was in our first team, Koumas (20) was on loan, Danns (20) was in our first team but injured, Gakpo (27) was in our first team.

(Approx ages)

None of them are going back to play academy football next season either. I'm not saying we're like Chelsea but you can't keep hold of 20 squad players. That needs thinning out to about 8-10 players to supplement the 19 others I listed as guaranteed to stay along with the 2-3 we should still be looking to sign.

I'm relaxed, but let's not pretend those players are academy players still. They're not. Wright, Ndiaye and Morrison are the only ones in that 39 long list who will play regularly for our academy next season in my opinion and can therefore still be considered development players.

13 Aug 2026 12:12:39
@ Ed025 : only one of the Chuckle brothers is still alive .


On second thoughts, you're probably right.

{Ed025's Note - love it Ron..

13 Aug 2026 16:56:49
MK, I get where you're coming from. Forgive me for taking a little liberty with the term 'development'. You said we had a bloated squad with 39 players, even though half of them are essentially (former) development/reserve/fringe/third-choice players, whatever you want to call them. 11 of them are just 21 or younger, 15 of them are under the age of 24 and have an average age of just 20. They might be above regular academy minutes, but they're still wet behind the ears and in development in my book, as they're not quite first-team ready, but there's still hope they can improve.

Sure, there's a few to flog off, but they cost a pittance to have around, and if Iraola can make use of a few, great. If not, we get them a few cup games under their belt and try to get a few quid for them next summer. Unfortunately none of them are worth anything at the moment due to Slot hardly giving them a look in. I think many of them are worth keeping around at least for the season considering the fitness and injury concerns.

13 Aug 2026 17:32:21
Chewy, I think a lot of the lads 23 years or younger will go on loan because, as you say, they're not worth much if anything. But, my point really was, we can't keep them just to watch from the stands, and we also shouldn't send them to the academy to obstruct the actual development players like Josh Abe, Josh Sonni-Lambie, Luca Eden, Dara Jikiemi, Will Wright, etc.

We have to keep a pathway open into the u21 team for the more talented youngsters who might have a real future at the club.

13 Aug 2026 08:52:47
Just want to thank all the ITKs and posters on here. Keeps glued to this site.
I remember when getting transfer gossip using the TV remote, now just refresh a webpage.
I do miss the days of Ceefax and Teletext.
Keep it up folks.
YNWA.

{Ed078's Note - nice. Too many posts slagging off those who share the info they have (which they have no obligation to do).

13 Aug 2026 11:42:29
Those days of Ceefax before school/college for the footie and super cheap holidays. Awesome site.

{Ed025's Note - yeah RB the holidays were great, better than all that Trivago crap from washed up managers mate.. :)

13 Aug 2026 10:06:33
Well said Ed, needs to stop. After all it's a rumours site. i'm very grateful for those who share and contribute.

13 Aug 2026 07:37:55
VG’s last post about Bellingham and now Carra’s about Gavi suggests we’re we have a big budget for centre mid.
It also suggests we’re looking for a top tier player that can progress things from mid.
Maybe explains the rumours around Wharton appearing again yesterday.
Issue with Wharton is it could be like Guehi all over again. Leave it too late and Palace tell us to do one despite player wanting to join.
Issue with Jude is he’ll be v difficult to get although clearly would be an amazing addition.
Issue with Gavi is stylistically he’s perfect for Iraola.

Pressing monster and progresses ball forward quickly but he’s lightweight and injury prone.
I still wonder if we’ll end up going in for Scott.
Re Barcola I just can’t help feeling I’d prefer M’Baye and Rayan. I know wages don’t make the maths that simple and wages of those 2 players may cost more than Barcola but I really feel as though our starting XI will be strong but squad depth needs work both to compete on all fronts but also to ensure bench is extremely strong to change games whilst maintaining a high intensity style.

13 Aug 2026 08:11:04
There's no way on God's green earth that Madrid will let Bellingham go.

13 Aug 2026 08:41:18
If we did that, we'd have 4x wingers with a combined G/A of just 24 in top-flight football, and hardly any experience whatsoever - a recipe for complete disaster that. If there's one thing we've learned from pre-season, it's that experience is key. Any time we chucked the young lads on we got hammered.

13 Aug 2026 08:43:26
No, Ashy? You do know who the manager is at Madrid now, don't you? Mourinho has a history of selling very good players if they don't fit his plans.

I'm not saying I think he'll sign for us, but I could certainly see him leaving Madrid.

13 Aug 2026 08:50:50
I love reading VG's posts and really hope he returns. I genuinely don't care if none of the In the knows predictions come true or not, as they all contribute really good reading material.

The only thing I couldn't understand was it was said that Bellingham's time was potentially up at Real but the deal was unlikely as Macca was staying.

Just can't see why Macca staying at Liverpool would have any meaning on Bellingham's time at Real, then being more secure, or does it just mean he'll be off to someone else?

13 Aug 2026 09:05:13
Gavi seems a lot more realistic. I can see Barcelona being willing to cash in.

Hell of a risk though. He had serious knee issues for nearly 2 years. I know he came back in the 2nd half of last season and looked fully fit again at last, but it's got to have taken its toll on his body. At 22 he probably will still have 4-5 years of elite level football in him but I think he'll be pretty similar to Thiago or Chiesa and be effectively done as a key player at an elite level by 28-30 years old.

I already have a worry about this same thing happening with Wirtz and Leoni. Serious knee injuries in that 18-21 age range normally come back to haunt you later in your career.

Hell of a player though and if we get Gavi at his best even for only 5 years it'll be a joy to watch.

13 Aug 2026 09:09:28
Jk, the way I took it was that if Macca stays we don't have the space/funds to go all out for Jude, but I don't know if that's me making things up. I think if there's a chance to get Jude you throw everything at it and then offload after. A midfield of Jude, Szobo and Wirtz would be very exciting indeed.

Perhaps not the most balanced, but they all have the legs to get about if they could be convinced to be disciplined positionally. Can't see it happening, it's fantasy stuff, but I'd be happy to watch us win games 4-3 with no defensive midfielder.

13 Aug 2026 09:09:50
So where is this big budget player going to start at? Macca is already on the outer with Wirtz, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch making up a great midfield. Bellingham is not going to leave Real Madrid for Liverpool where he competes with Wirtz. I reckon it has to be a lower priced player, someone almost exactly like Camara.

13 Aug 2026 09:16:10
Red Willis, 100% agree, mate. I've probably waffled and not explained myself very well in my first comment.

What I meant was specifically the Jude time up at Real part. Surely what a Liverpool midfielder is doing or isn't doing shouldn't have any reflection on Jude's time being up at Real.

It just reflects on whether Liverpool are in for him.

It's too hot, mate, I'm confusing myself and everyone else.

Bring back Ceefax.

13 Aug 2026 09:18:04
Stradarosso, not every midfielder can play every minute of every game and be at their best.
We need at least 5 high quality in that area and currently have 3 (4 if you include Macca at his best).
So, in my opinion, we defo need at least one addition in there, possibly 2 if Macca goes and we seem Nyoni not quite ready.

13 Aug 2026 09:38:32
JK23, the only sense I could make out of that comment was that Macca was doing to RM, with Jude coming the other way.

The link to the Barca midfielders - Gavi or Pedri - could be equally linked with Macca going the other way.



Jude confuses me in where he could play. Someone like Gavi or Pedri, who play more as a CDM primarily, would make a bit more sense given the current make up of our team.

13 Aug 2026 09:49:04
Ahhhh Zed. That's the one way I didn't look at it and can see the sense in it.

13 Aug 2026 10:10:05
Aside from the fact, it's pie in the sky that Bellingham would be joining us (Mourinho likes that kind of midfielder who arrives in the box to score; he always wanted Gerrard & had to settle for Lampard), I can't see that either Bellingham or Gavi would remotely fix the issues we have in midfield.

Gavi is too small, weak & lightweight, and Bellingham is too indisciplined tactically. We lack physicality and defensive nous; neither of those players fix that, we're soft and weak in midfield and that's a huge problem.

13 Aug 2026 10:50:22
No Riossy, you do know who the president is at Madrid now, don't you? Perez has a history of babying his marquee signings and undermining his head coaches. There are no managers in Madrid.

Anyway, Mourinho's a big fan of Bellingham, he's definitely part of his plans.

13 Aug 2026 04:18:12
Barcola, Mbaye, Kounde and Sadiki or Camara
I would take that, to be honest, with the sales of Chiesa, Jones, MacAllister and maybe Elliott.

13 Aug 2026 08:36:56
I think nobody would argue with that list, Shughes.

13 Aug 2026 08:45:33
Completely agree with Barcola and Mbaye.

Not sure why we would loan Araujo and then also bring in Kounde, who has a similar positional background? Nor why Barca would let us take both.

I think the Kounde ship has sailed.

Sadiki or Camara - I wonder whether the recent murmurings about a top midfielder would mean we get them but no others?

Agree with your outgoings list, Shug.

13 Aug 2026 08:45:38
Shughes, that's a hell of a lot of business to do in just over 2 weeks of the window left.

13 Aug 2026 09:12:36
I agree, JK. I just can't see a couple being done. Jones is definitely a possibility as is Endo. Don't really want Chiesa and Elliott to go - they will make up the squad and sub players. Macca should only be replaced by a like for like, but I haven't seen us linked with anyone.

13 Aug 2026 09:39:47
I can see Fede going, both for us (non-HG places, may make more sense to use someone like Koumas as an alternate as he is U21) and for him, the guy deserves minutes to see if he can ever get back to the levels he was at.

13 Aug 2026 10:40:06
We need a dedicated RB, that's why Kounde makes sense. He'd fix a glaring problem that all opposition teams will try to exploit.

13 Aug 2026 11:01:17
SG, but we have that in Araujo, don't we?

Posters may say "sick note" etc., but AI and the STC have made their decision.

Maybe Kounde wasn't available? Maybe they see a higher bar for RA, especially with VVD potentially leaving in 12m?

I certainly think that across Leoni, Jacquet, Ndukwe and Ndiaye, we have a core of excellent CB options, but lacking in experience. Maybe they see that if RA is over his injury issues (both mental and physical) then he would be the perfect leader of that group after VVD goes.



We also have an excellent RB in Conor Bradley. His injuries are a major concern, but perhaps the medical team know he's on the road to, hopefully, a permanent recovery.

So many ifs, buts and maybes, but there's no chance of Kounde now, with us having got RA.

13 Aug 2026 11:59:39
In his last 50 appearances for Barca Araujo has played RB 4 times apparently. Seen as he's only played for Barca 63 times in the last 2 seasons, that could well be just a coupla games at RB a season in that time. If we are serious about challenging we need a RB. Otherwise be happy with Top 5.

13 Aug 2026 12:13:28
Sadiki is not moving.

13 Aug 2026 14:46:16
Ron,
You are close to the Sunderland hierarchy too?
He would move if we got in his ear, told him he was our next big midfield star, and threw £80m across the table to Sunderland.

13 Aug 2026 01:59:10
Guys the Barcola deal is sorted. Just listen to the Goat.

13 Aug 2026 08:45:53
Be quiet, you're always bleating on.